Cover: October 1960.
50 years ago
David Glover reported on an unfortunate cyclist, Tom, who cycled 90 miles across two counties to visit his parents.
“How had it come about that he had set off that morning to cycle home to north Shropshire — 90 miles for an unfit, middle-aged man? Was it an act of bravado, harking back to the days of his zestful youth? Certainly his personal finances had had a good deal to do with it, as had perhaps the notion of impressing his parents by a casual, unexpected arrival. ‘You haven’t come all the way on your bike? Well, dear heart alive!’.
“He had grown tired of begging them to visit him, with their endless excuses of the greenhouse and the poultry to keep on eye on. There might be a snap frost and ‘You can’t keep on bothering the neighbours’.”
Enduring heavy rain and floods, missing a train by seconds and going through what was described as “physical torture”, Tom felt alone in a world of flying steel. “If ever a man deserved an armchair, a cup of tea, a real Shropshire welcome . . .”
With his finish line in sight, “he realised that there was no light at the window. The doors, as he tried each turn were locked against him. There was no flickering glow of fire or TV screen. All was still and silent. Focusing with difficulty on a scrap of white card in the dusk of the window he made out the legend — ‘GONE TO SEE TOM’.”
ROCHELLE JONES
Aside from the articles you can browse on this website, the print magazine contains a wealth of fascinating feature pieces and regular items to keep you entertained and informed. This month, you can also read about:
Cover: October 2010.
Open secrets . . . As Freemasonry celebrates 125 years in the county, Neil Thomas dispels a few mythsConviction politics . . . Sixty years after he first entered Parliament, Tony Benn tells Andy Richardson why politics is still a motivating force in his life, ahead of an appearance in the county later this month
Competition . . . Win a £500 voucher to spend at Wysteria Lane At Home, one of Shrewsbury’s most stylish home furnishing stores
The new boy at school . . . Mark Turner is the new headmaster at Shrewsbury School, and he tells Jocelyne Fildes why he is relishing the challenge
Food and drink . . . Neil Thomas visits a vineyard near Church Stretton and tastes an award-winning wine; he also dines out at The Crown Country Inn, Munslow. The Shropshire prune is celebrated in Laura Bolt’s recipeThe best of times, the worst of times . . . Shirley Tart begins a new series in which she talks to some of the county’s prominent people about their eventful lives. This month, the subject is Catherine, Lady Forester
Village voices . . . Ben Bentley’s popular series sees him dropping in to meet the people of Ditton Priors
Social events . . . Our photographers record your events the length and breadth of the county. This month’s selection includes RAF Shawbury’s annual reception and a young farmers’ charity concert and ball
Fashion . . . Tracey O’Sullivan considers the tricky transition from autumn to winter, while the Shrewsbury boutique and lingerie specialist Mystique reopens this month — Violet Cadogan-West gets a preview
The village voices of Ditton Priors feature in the print version of October’s magazine.
Whistlestop Whitchurch . . . Another new series for Shirley Tart, looking at the county’s towns
Gardening . . . Ken Tudor looks back at one of the county’s favourite garden trails, for which the gardeners of Cardington — one of Shropshire’s loveliest villages — throw open their garden gates. Andy Richardson takes a look over the wall at a south Shropshire garden restored to productive glory
On the buses . . . An iconic double-decker London bus has found its way to Wem where it will be restored to its former glory
Travel/breaks . . . Carl Jones see the majesty of the fjords from a cruise ship, while Alun Owen enjoys a Dublin break
. . . and much, much more!
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